Spring-switch



K. DIXON.

SPFHNG SWHCH.

.wpmmon mw 1m16.1921.

Patented J une 28, 1921.

Ell, firkil i. K. DIXONA SPRING SWITCH.

APPLICATION min me. e, 192|.

l@ Qw Patented June 28, 1921.

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I. II. DIXON.

SPRING SWII'CIJI,

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NM www UNiTED STAIRS 'PATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL K. DIXON', 0F JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-SWITCH. y

y specification of reztersraamt. Patented June 28, 1921.,y

Application lei'llanuary 6, 1921. Serial No. 435,360.

To allee/wm t may concern Be it known that I, ISRAEL K. DIXON, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of Johnstown, in the county of Cambria'and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer* tain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Switches, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to spring switcl1es provide a spring box having the novel constructions, combination and arrangement of parts shown and described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference bein had to the accompanying drawinffs, in w ich ligure 1 is a plan of a switch box` and switch, (with the cover removed) embodyino my invention.

. ig. 2 is a sectional end elevation .on the line II-II of Fig. 1 (the box cover being shown in place).

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on a larger scale,

showing details in the construction of the spring barrel and its associated parts, forming` part of my improved apparatus. i ig. 4 is a plan, and Fi 5 and 6 are side elevations showing detai s in the construction of the barrel throwing wedges forming parts of my improvedO apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a plan, and Figs. 8 and 9 are side elevations of the spring pressed wedges forming parts of the apparatus. l

Referring now to the drawings, forming part of this specification, the letter A desigk nates a switch structure, in which is pivoted the switch tongue B, the tongue having a projection b thereon. A spring box Cr is secured to the switch structure by means of bolts C.

A rocking spring-barrel- D ismounted' within the spring box C and has lugs or ears 2 projecting upwardly from the upper portion of its cylindrical casing 3, which are connected with the projection b of the switch tongue B, by a double link 4. The link 4 has a pivotal connectionwith the ears 2, and an adjustable rocking joint 5v inten mediate its ends topermit limited vertical rocking movement of the end of the link pivoted to the barrel D.

The barrel casing 3 is preferably formed of a single hollow casting, having a cylindrical outside surface and an opening or boreof polygonal cross section, being hexagonal as shown.

The casing 3 has screw threaded ends closed by internally threaded caps 6 and 7. the caps being provided with holes 6` and 9, through which a shaft 10 projects, this shaft being held against turning movement, being provided at one end with a squared bearing portion 11 adapted to be fitted into a groove in one end wall of the spring box C, and a round bearing portion 12 is formed abutting the squared end-bearing 11, on

which the end cap' and an operating wedge 13 is mounted. The opposite end of the shaft 10 is rounded from a point at some distance from the end, forming a bearing portion 14, which is fitted into the side wall of the` spring box, and also carries the end cap? of the spring barrel and another second operating Wedge 15. The portion of the shaft 10 between the inner ends of the opposite round bearing portions 12 and 14 is squared, forming a bearino' 16 for operating the spring actuated wedges 17 and 18, which are slidably mounted thereon.`

A coil spring 19 positioned around the squared intermediate portion 16 of .the shaft 10, has its ends telescopically engaged `on the conical ends of the wedges 17 and 18.

The spring operated wedges 17 v l,and 1S, which are duplicates, and have an axial opening therein, which is square, seas to comprise a conical end portion 20, which telescopes within the ends of the coilspring 19, anda disk portion 21 of greater diam eter than the cone 20, one faceofithefdisk portions forming seats for the .ends of the vspring 19, and the other face thereoffbeing provided with two or more triangular or wedge shaped projections 22, forming wedg- -ing faces or abutments.

The barrel throwing wedges' 13 and 15, which are` of duplicate construction, except Aas to diameter, of the axial openings therein, are preferably of hexagonal cross section, ora cross section similar to that, of the` interor of the barrel casing 3. These wedges 13, 15 comprise a body portion or back plate 25 provided with an opening 2st to permit of their being journaled on the bearings 12 and 14 of shaft l0, and having two or more wedge shaped members 2G adapted to bear against and coact with the triangular or wedge shaped abutments 2:2 on the wedges 1T and 18 in compressing 'the spring 19, and in holding the switch tongue in thrown position. The rear face of the body portion 25 of the. wedges 13 and 15 is cut away, forming a recess 2T for the reception of a suitable packing which preferably is absorbent, to prevent the escape of oil or grease from the interior of the barrel D.

The spring barrel 3 is adapted to be filled with grease or oil to provide' for lubrication of the parts inclosed therein, thus reducing friction and wear to a minimum, and facilitating the operation of the device.

The operation of the apparatus 1s as follows z-The parts being assembled and in the position shown in Fig. 1, the tongue B of switch A will be thrown or forced to the right, thus pulling on the links 4 connected to'the ears 2 on the barrel D, and rocking the barrel or casing 3, it's end caps 6 and 7, and the operating wedge members 13 and 15 on the shaft 10. This swinging movement forces the triangular wedge projections 26--26 against the contacting wedging faces on projections or abutments 2x2-#22 of the wedges 1T and 1S, and the wedges 17 and 18 being held against rotation on the squared portion 1G of the now turning shaft 10, creates a wedging force which causes the wedges 1T and 18 to slide along the shaft 10 and compress the coil spring wedge projections 26-26 ride over the abutments 22-22- At this point the wedging force against the cones will cease and the compressed spring 19 will force the wedges 17 and 18 back to normal position with their projections 22-22 on the opposite side of the triangular wedges 26-26 on the members 13 and 14. This movement throws the switch tongue from one side to the other of the recess in the switch body in whichV the tongue is mounted. The pressure of the spring 19 will then hold the tongue B in position until ft is again moved in the opposite direction sufficiently to force the cones against the. spring to allow the wedges 26-26 to pass the ahutments 22--22, when the switch tongue will be moved into and held inits other position in the switch body.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The apparatus is simple, effective and' durable, and will not require frequent repairs.

While 1 have shown and described one specific form of my invention, it will be expressly understood that it is only illustrative. and that 1 do not wish to be limited to such form. since various modifications may be made in dez-ign and combination of parts 19 until the without departing from the spirit of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim 1. The combination with a spring switch tongue and spring box therefor, of means for yieldably holding said switch tongue in either of its thrown positions, said means comprising a rocking spring barrel, a stationary shaft on which the barrel is journaled within said spring box, coacting spring pressed wedging members within said barrel adapted to yieldably hold it against rotation, and means connecting said barrel and said switch tongue.

2. The combination with a spring switch tongue having a spring box, of means for yieldably holding said switch tongue in either of its thrown positions, saidmeans comprising a rocking spring barrel, a stationary shaft on which said barrel is journaled within said spring box, a pair of spring pressed wedges slidably mounted on said shaft, a spring mounted between said wedges, means carried on said shaft and rotatable with said barrel adapted to coact with said wedges to compress said spring and permit said barrel to rotate, and means connecting said barrel and said switch tongue.

3. The combination with a switch tongue and a spring box therefor, of means for yieldably holding said switch tongue in either of .its thrown positions, said means comprising a rocking spring barrel having a link connection with said switch tongue and journaled on a stationary shaft mounted within saidspring box, a pair of spring pressed wedges slidably mounted on sai shaft and having projecting wedging faces, a coil spring mounted between said wedges, having its ends contacting therewith, and means carried on said shaft and movable with said barrel adapted to Contact with said spring pressed wedging faces and adapted to cause a relative approach thereof and thereby compressing said spring and permitting said barrel to turn during a predetermined movement of said tongue, and then automatically release said spring and cause said wedging faces to again yieldably hold said barrel and said tongue against movement.

1. The combination with a switch tongue and spring box therefor, of means for yieldably holding said switch tongue in either of its thrown positions, said means comprising a rocking spring barrel j ournaled on a shaft fixed within said spring box, a pair of spring pressed wedges slidably mounted on said shaft and having projecting wedging faces, a coil spring mounted between said wedges and having its ends contacting with one end of said wedges and barrel operating wedges loosely carried on said shaft and arranged to move with said barrel', said wedges comprising a bod y portion having triangular wedglOl) ing faces on one end, said wedging faces eX- tending into the path of the wedging faces on said spring wedges, and being adapted to engage therewith in causing a relative approach of the spring wedges on the shaft, to the relativo approach of said wedges, said movement of the wedges being sufficient to permit the wedging faces to ride over the e'nd of the opposing wedging faces, and automatically releasing said wedges and causing said spring to again yieldably hold said barrel and the switch tongue against movenient.

5. In a switch structure, a pivoted switch tongue, and a spring box, a rocking spring barrel mounted within said spring box, means connecting said barrel to said tongue, said barrel being rocked when said tongue is moved sidewise, a spring within said ban rel adapted to yieldably hold the barrel against rocking movement, and means within said barrel for compressing said spring and allowing said barrel to rotate when the switch tongue is moved from one to the other of its thrown positions. Y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set In hand.

y, ISRAEL K. DIXON. 

